"My grades are always just below the honors or advanced placement requirements. I'm okay with taking easier courses, but I'm worried that colleges are going to see this as negative. What should I do?"

Sarah, 18, Medford, NY

If your grades aren't high enough to get into honors or advanced classes, then the best thing you can do is focus on getting the best grades possible in the regular courses. Every college and university has different standards when it comes to admission requirements, so while taking only regular courses might not impress Harvard, there are plenty of schools that will consider you for admission. Just be sure to make a realistic list of colleges where you will apply—places where your cumulative GPA and test scores compare with the average admitted student. You can typically find this information on each school's website listed under the previous year's admission stats.